I used to balk at using "magicy" sounding words like abracadabra and hocus pocus. But, I've actually started using them more, particularly in use with kid shows. They have a cartoonish expectation of a magician and seem to enjoy getting their expectations satisfied. Of course I don't over use it!

Pop HaydnInner circle
Los Angeles
3123 Posts

Posted: Jun 16, 2015 05:11 pm

0

I use the word "trick" almost exclusively in describing what I do. Even if it was based on real magic, the sort of demonstrations I am doing would be considered little tricks of no great consequence. Just light entertainment. Even Gandalf would have considered smoke rings and such "tricks."

I'd much rather hear something described as a trick than as an experiment. I cringe when I hear a magician say he needs someone to assist him with an experiment. It just drives me nuts. With a lot of tricks, to the layman, if there's any doubt as to the outcome and if there's a real chance the "experiment" could fail, why should the spectator give the magician credit when the "experiment" proves successful? Shouldn't the "experiment" be repeated at least several times to eliminate the possibility that the results of the first "experiment" weren't just plain luck?

I mean no offense to anyone here who uses that approach - it's just like anything else, such as spelling tricks. You either like them or you don't. In this case, I hate both. I remember hearing the "experiment" line a bunch of times as a little kid and had to keep myself from being rude by rolling my eyes as I thought to myself "Yeah, right, like there's a chance you're not going to pull off whatever this is." That's why I never use the line myself - I can't sell something I hate and would never buy.

Great thread, though. And I had never heard the black cherries line, either.

BelanosNew user
15 Posts

Posted: Nov 9, 2015 03:57 pm

1

[quote]On Apr 13, 2006, TheAmbitiousCard wrote:

Now, I also hear this a lot on DVDs.
-Pick a card.
-Perfect
-Write your name on it.
-Perfect
-Show it to your friends.
-Perfect.
-Put it in the middle.
-Perfect.
-Are you left handed or right-handed?
-Perfect.
[quote]
You must be talking about Gerry Griffin

BelanosNew user
15 Posts

Posted: Nov 9, 2015 04:07 pm

0

Here's a phrase that is over-used in magic instruction videos. "So what you're going to do now is...." or "So now you're going to..." or variations on the theme. The instruction doesn't need a preface...just tell us what we do next!!!!

Oh...and "umm" and "uhh" and "OK". stop it.

elmagoLoyal user
Northridge- Los Angeles, CA
268 Posts

Posted: Apr 11, 2016 08:57 pm

0

"Patter".- How about scripting instead? So that it sounds like something we want to say, instead of something we have to.

"Um"-Usually said when a magician has not scripted the magic and is winging it, and is not very good at winging it.

Narrating moves.- The audience can see what you are doing, why say it out loud? Oh, because a good script has not been written to push the story along.

"Do me a favor".- Do ME a favor and don't use this overused phrase.

"Do you like magic?" or "Can I show you something?"- What if they say "No!". You just lost control of the show.

"Is there any particular reason that you picked that card?" - Unless you actually care about the answer and use it in the trick and it is not a stalling technique, than NO!

"Excellence is not a single act; it's a habit" Shaq quoting Aristotle after winning NBA MVP.

Dick OslundInner circle
7998 Posts

Posted: Oct 7, 2016 11:37 am

0

Quote:

On Jul 16, 2015, RogerTheShrubber wrote:
I'd much rather hear something described as a trick than as an experiment. I cringe when I hear a magician say he needs someone to assist him with an experiment. It just drives me nuts. With a lot of tricks, to the layman, if there's any doubt as to the outcome and if there's a real chance the "experiment" could fail, why should the spectator give the magician credit when the "experiment" proves successful? Shouldn't the "experiment" be repeated at least several times to eliminate the possibility that the results of the first "experiment" weren't just plain luck?

I mean no offense to anyone here who uses that approach - it's just like anything else, such as spelling tricks. You either like them or you don't. In this case, I hate both. I remember hearing the "experiment" line a bunch of times as a little kid and had to keep myself from being rude by rolling my eyes as I thought to myself "Yeah, right, like there's a chance you're not going to pull off whatever this is." That's why I never use the line myself - I can't sell something I hate and would never buy.

Great thread, though. And I had never heard the black cherries line, either.

"Experiment" probably dates back to he dawn of the age of science, when the itinerant mounebanks put on a clean shirt and moved into the drawing rooms of the wealthy. The usual "stage" set was a large table, upstage center, and two "tripod" side tables, down left and right.

The large table was "loaded" with "apparatus" and "paraphernalia". Each item was generally moved to one or both tripod tables when it was "demonstrated", or, "experimented with"!

It was the age of chrome plated "apparatus", and glass "paraphernalia". The mountebank assumed the role of "professor" or "doctor", to add "class" to his presentation.

Three hundred years! And, we still hear magicians use "apparatus" and "experiment" !!! --AND, we still see "red velvet bags on a stick" (change bags) chafing dishes (dove/duck pans) ETC.

Ha! My SECOND Magic book ("Fun With Magic" --Joseph Leeming) started off on the first page with a "sample handbill" for an "old" magic show". (Note the pseudo "scientific" words!!!

MYSTERY & MIRTH

A CONGRESS OF CABALISTIC PHENOMENA

Children in Ecstasies! Ladies Enraptured! Gentlemen delighted!

EXPERIMENTS IN HIGH CLASS P R E S T I D I G I T A T I O N and I L L U S I O N A R Y S C I E N C E

Something NEW--WEIRD--WONDERFUL

SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK

Dick OslundInner circle
7998 Posts

Posted: Oct 12, 2016 05:07 pm

0

P.S.!

Oops! I think that there was one more line:

"A sight that will baffle the senses, astound the mind, and, mystify the human brain!"

SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK

JassTanRegular user
Singapore
105 Posts

Posted: Nov 10, 2016 09:10 pm

0

Here are some more...
- Hold out your hand, flat like a table
- on the count of three..
- flip it over
- show it to the audience, don't show me, I'm gonna turn around.
- remember the card, don't forget it..

DollarbillSpecial user
Colorado
850 Posts

Posted: Apr 9, 2017 09:09 am

0

When screwing up : Ah ***! Or "shoot" / dang it! My original teacher use to bust my b***s about that!

willmagicmanNew user
65 Posts

Posted: Aug 3, 2017 08:14 am

0

Here's two phrases that are pet hates of mine:

1, 'Perfectly ordinary'

2, 'I'm just going give the cards a genuine shuffle'

Both these statements imply the opposite is actually true.

Will.

A Man's gotta know his limitations ... A Magician sets those limitations.

DollarbillSpecial user
Colorado
850 Posts

Posted: Jul 4, 2018 08:46 pm

0

Quote:

On Oct 12, 2016, Dick Oslund wrote:
P.S.!

Oops! I think that there was one more line:

"A sight that will baffle the senses, astound the mind, and, mystify the human brain!"

This would work today. Ima use it if I can remeber it! .............. 4th and beer!

Dick OslundInner circle
7998 Posts

Posted: Jul 5, 2018 06:10 am

0

Right Bill! I agree! Thank Joe Leeming for it! (I'n old, but not THAT OLD!) HEE HEE

SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK

debjitLoyal user
India
212 Posts

Posted: Aug 22, 2018 05:58 am

0

Here's a phrase that is over-used in magic trailers - "This is an organic and visual piece of propless mentalism!"

"Needless to say".... is a phrase that... well, it just bugs me! And..."Uhhh, Ummm..." was mentioned before as a validation of lack of preparation unless as I sometimes do in a comedy routine fumble like Barney Fife...lol.

I just like to tell stories and let my mannerisms and body language overcome the objections the spectators may have already visualized in their minds eye. No need to verbally say, "Nothing up my sleeves. Watch this." etc. etc.